Encouragement

Sometimes we all need a little encouragement  to get through some of lifes big hurdles.  Have you ever thought of using quilts as a way of lending support to a hurting friend?  Twice in the last year I have felt an urging from above to do just that. This quilt is the latest 'comfort wrap' that I have made and given "just because". The circumstances for making the quilts were different, but in both cases I wanted to show my friends how much I care about them and how much MORE God cares.

 

I spent time finding Bible verses that would encourage and bring hope.  Using a fine point Pigma pen, the verses were written on 3.5 x 6.5 inch fabric bricks. There are about 25 verses penned along the white bands on the large lapsize quilt.  As I made the pattern I thought about how often our roads in life are like zig zags.....we can't see around the bend.  We have to just trust and keep on keeping on.  Do the next thing, having faith that God is walking beside us.  He promises to direct our paths when we trust in Him.

I call the quilt Follow Me. Wrap up in it, my friends.

Spring is in the Air!

I'm needing a dose of Spring about now.......how about you?  Here in Kansas City, the weatherman says that it may get up to 80 degrees later this week! Woo Hoo!! I'm loving the sound of that!

Don't these pretty fabrics make you long for the blooming flowers that are just around the corner...at least in my neck of the woods, anyway.  The wonky log cabin blocks are all made using Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey. I love the pretty fabrics, but what I love even more is the fact that the blocks were all made for me by blog friends in different states.  March was "my month" for the Nittany Block Party.  I joined this online block exchange group in December and was paired up with eleven other quilters across the country. Each month we all make blocks for one quilter who decides the block she wants and then gives us instructions and, sometimes, fabric. 

Wanda, from Oklahoma, was first and asked us to make wonky log cabin blocks using our own fabrics with a "person" fabric as the center.  We each made her two blocks so she is well on her way to a nice size quilt.  In February we made scrappy X-blocks for Sherri who lives in Indiana.  She mailed both charcoal grey and white solid Kona to set off the colorful scrap fabric that each quilter would contribute from her own stash to make the block.  I loved the look of the block so much that I am making a quilt using the same idea. I'll show you the finished product soon! (Sherri said she didn't mind if I "copied".... Thanks, Sherri.) 

April will find me anxiously checking my computer for news about what Tracy in PA has chosen for her month.  One thing I know, it will be fun to create a block that she will enjoy and treasure.  If you haven't discovered the wonderful world of quilting via the internet, I only have one question: What are you waiting for?  Here's a place to start. Let me know if you decide to join a group.........I'd love to hear about it!  Happy Spring!!

Quilts4Hope

I'm really good at starting projects....not so good at finishing. Or, so it seems, from the looks of my UFO list. The blocks in this quilt have been lurking around in a drawer of my sewing closet for oh, around ten years, I would guess. They are sampler blocks, as you can see, made by me and several quilting friends from The Starlight Quilt Guild. I didn't know what I was saving them for till recently. You see, I am on a mission, along with several other gals from my church, to make 30 quilts to send to an orphanage in Rowanda called New Hope Homes. The dated six inch blocks made up a sweet quilt for a young child in Africa who has little to call his own. The sashing, borders and backing all came from my *stash* which is one of my goals with this project....to use what I have, when possible. This is the third quilt that is completely finished for the orphanage. I have at least six more in various stages. Stay tuned for more Quilts4Hope.

Celebrating!

What did you do to celebrate National Quilting Day?

As a good citizen of the Quilting Community, I spent part of my day celebrating!  Here is a great picture of all the quilters out there rushing to their LQS to do their part--buy fabric!!  Actually, it is picture of the fabric I bought yesterday, but not from my fav quilt shop. Nope.  It's from Target.  And it's Liberty of London fabric.  Yup. In the form of an XL size pair of boxers!  I got the idea from Mrs. Schmenkman. I have my rotary cutter ready to cut into this cute fabric.  I have my eye on another pair with a pretty  blue and white print, but thought I would try one pair first to see how easy it was to cut up.  There were also some men's shirts and children's dresses with nice prints that would look great in quilts. Thanks, Target.  I'll be back. Maybe.

But adding to the stash can't be really counted as quilting so I spent several hours REALLY celebrating in my basement!! Sometimes, it seems kind of creepy down there, but once I get the lights all on and a quilt loaded onto my Grace quilting frame, I'm in heaven.  My TL98E Juki was purchased on ebay about six years ago and I love her. She isn't fancy but adding Juki and Grace to my quilting family really changed how many quilts I can make.  It took a little over two hours from start to finish to quilt this lap size quilt.  I sewed the binding on and got part of the hand stitching done while I watched KU lose and K State win last night... It was an all around day to celebrate!!

Sewing for Little Girls

Oh my, do I love to sew for little girls!  Look at this darling thing created for my little red-headed grand-daughter, Lula. It only took a few hours to make using this clever pattern from Vanilla House. The pattern contains sizes 1 to 6 and includes a dolly dress to match.  I have two other little sweeties who will need a dress also, I'm thinking!
I got a "fabric fix" using Robert Kauffman Dill Blossom in aqua and coral.  There are no pattern pieces to pin and cut around as all the parts can be cut with your rotary cutter and ruler.  The size 2 used less than a yard each of both fabrics, making it an inexpensive project with a classy boutique look!

Here's Lula trying on the dress over her shirt.....it's a little big, but she will grow into it soon!


Love those socks!

This is the quilt behind the dress in the first picture.  It shouts SPRING! don't you think!  I made this scrap quilt using a tutorial from Red Pepper Quilts.  I adore all the white and how it sets off the fruity colors of the fabrics.  The tutorial is easy to follow and very well done.  You will probably want to make one too when you see how easy it is.

GREEN

I Love Green! And who doesn't today....it's St. Paddy's Day! Here's a fun green quilt made especially for my youngest grandson's recent 3rd birthday. It's called 'Once Upon A Time'. What fun to trace the red paths, stopping at each I Spy square to create a story that changes everytime the game is played. The story lines are endless and as creative as one's imagination.

Last week the quilt and I visited a kindergarten class. With excitement, the children took turns adding to the story evolving as little fingers pointed to squares and decided which path to take next.

 

Pieced from lots of great fabrics with pictures of things a little boy likes, the back is almost as fun as the front. I used a pattern found in one of my favorite books, The Modern Quilt Workshop by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr. The directions are clear, there are color combination suggestions, and helpful hints to make this quilt and fourteen others. Several others in the book are on my To Do list. Maybe you'd like to make a storytelling quilt for a child you love!

Plume

The Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild began in January. I've attended two fun meetings charged with energy for modern quilting. One of the members designs fabrics under the name of Tula Pink. Her latest collection, Plume, will be featured at the April meeting with a "Project Runway" type program.

In February, we were given a free charm pack of 5 inch squares and challenged to make a quilt using only these Plume fabrics plus 1/2 yard fabric of our choice. I've been busy creating my project and wanted to show you a hint of what I'm doing. In April I'll be strutting the runway with my finished quilt. I'll show you the finished results! In the meantime, why not check out this new guild at http://kcmodernquiltguild.ning.com/. Maybe you would like to join us!

Obsession

I was once asked how many quilts I was going to make before I knew I was finished. I stood there with my mouth hanging open not knowing how to answer. I still don't know.

I wonder if anyone asks such questions of painters? I quilt because that's what I do. I love making things.

I'm reading a book called She Did What She Could by Elisa Morgan. The title is really a quote from the Bible: Jesus said this about Mary of Bethany after she anointed Him with her expensive oil. Like Mary, I can't do it all, but I can do what I can. I'd like my quilts to be a blessing somehow. She did what she could. I think, is a wonderful life goal. I know it's mine.